Texas country music (more popularly known just as Texas country or Texas music) is a rapidly growing subgenre of American country music. Texas country is known for fusing traditionalist root sounds (similar to neotraditional country) with the outspoken, care-free views of outlaw country. Texas country blends these subgenres by featuring a "take it or leave it" approach, a "common working man" theme, and witty undertones. These often combine with stripped down music sound. Texas country music can also be called "Red Dirt" country music. Sounds from Texas and Oklahoma have influenced the scene of this particular genre.

Neither the location of birth nor the location of upbringing seems to calculate in the definition of a Texas country artist, as long as the origin is not in the corporate Nashville scene as the genre tends to be anti-Nashville. For example, Chris Knight is considered by some to be a Texas country musician, despite his Kentucky ties. Adam Hood, an Alabama native, also has had success in the genre. Even international musicians, such as Alberta, Canada native Corb Lund, have been successful in the Texas country scene.

The line of delineation for vocals is unclear. Traditionally, the Texas country scene has been a male dominated genre, however many women have had chart success in recent years. The Texas "anthem" is a common song type, referencing and sometimes embellishing on the different positive characteristics of the state. Many of these types of songs have been popular on the Texas Music Charts.[1]

The live performance is at the very root of the Texas country scene. Enthusiasm is the best descriptor for both band and crowd at a live Texas country performance. "It is not an uncommon sight to see clubs all over Texas packed to the rafters; girls and boys in cowboy hats and Wranglerstwo-stepping next to the mosh pit, where college boys or "Man Fans" in khakis and college girls pressed up against the stage".[2] An important factor Texas Country's success is in the frequency of live performances. It is not uncommon for a Texas Country band to tour 200+ dates a year, all, or nearly all, in the State of Texas[citation needed]. This allows the fan to attend a band's show more often, thus interacting with the music on a more personal level. Popular venues include, Gruene Hall (Gruene), Billy Bob's (Ft. Worth), John T. Floore's Country Store, (Helotes) Luckenbach Dance Hall[3] and Blue Light Live [4] (Lubbock).

In addition to local and state wide venues hosting live performances, the Texas Regional Radio Report hosts the annual Texas Regional Radio Music Awards Show where the Texas Red Dirt artist and radio stations are recognized for the outstanding achievements throughout the year. The winners in 25 categories are nominated and voted on by fans, friends and industry professionals and are awarded the night of the show. The voting membership has grown to over 32,000 voting members in five years and continues to expand every year. The awards show is open to the public and fans alike who cheer on their favorite artist/entertainers and radio stations. Information about the show and voting procedures can be found at www.TRRMA.net

Lyrical content is the backbone of Texas country. Willie Nelson, a legendary Country Music Outlaw, inspired his friend Waylon Jennings, an outlaw country music legend himself, who is sometimes cited as an inspiration to present day Texas country musicians, to say, “Your melody goes where the words take you”.[5]

Songs about traditional dance halls, open roads, family farms and hometown bars, along with other illustrations of Texas landscape, are all found in present-day Texas country artists' catalogs. The ties of landscape and music seem to serve as remembrance and gratitude, as evident in most songs. Appreciation for surroundings is not the only limitation for this theme. The "average man" and his struggle with nature do appear as well. "The songs definitely incorporate a spirit of the times and constitute a spontaneous and fairly comprehensive record of life".[6]

Country music from Texas has been a popular since the spread of the cowboy culture in the late 1800s. Texas helped popularize country music through the world and the state’s rich and varied traditions continue to redefine country music.[7]

While the genre has roots in Texas, Oklahoma artists such as Jason Boland, Stoney LaRue, Mike McClure, and Cross Canadian Ragweed have had a major influence on Texas Country. For this reason, "Red Dirt Music" is becoming a more popular term for the genre to pay homage to its Oklahoma influence. The term was coined in reference to the miles of red dirt that is common throughout the two states.

Robert Earl Keen's No. 2 Live Dinner, released in 1996, had it all; comedy accompanied with "a sharp wit, a laid-back cowboy style, and an eye for detail... combined in [his] songs that are as easy on the ears as they are packed with insight".[8] Keen's home calling came after a short stint in Nashville, where he quickly became uncomfortable. His 1996 live album release truly showcased the “wide range” of the talented Texas musician and popularized the single "The Road Goes On Forever", a song many music fans regard as the paradigm for Texas 'Country anthems'. Joe Ely and other Texas musicians have recorded cover versions of “The Road Goes On Forever”.

Cory Morrow, a Houston native, had been on the Texas scene since the mid-90s. With the release of his fourth album Outside the Lines, Morrow found more mainstream success on the country music charts.[citation needed]Pat Green, also an artist from Texas, began his career as part of the Texas country scene later went on to widespread commercial success with gold album Wave on Wave after switching to a "Shania Twain/ Garth Brooks" Nashville style of country music. The album's title track hit No. 3 on the U.S. Billboard's Hot Country Songs chart and won a Grammy nomination for Best Country Song.

Kevin Fowler, a former hair-metal/glam rocker was Dangerous Toys guitarist from the late 1980s until 1993, followed by his own founding of Thunderfoot, a Southern rock band based out of Austin. Originally from Amarillo, he self-released his country debut album One For The Road in 1997. This followed with his smash independent follow-up album, Beer, Bait, and Ammo. He has since found national success, on a major label.

Texas country's influence continues to be felt in the mainstream music genre with artists such as Jack Ingram, who had already established a name for himself in Texas country, who won a CMT Music Award in 2007 and the 2008 Academy of Country Music award for New Male Vocalist of the Year. He has also scored top 25 singles on Billboard's Hot Country Songs chart with songs such as "Love You" and his cover of Hinder's "Lips of an Angel". Another one of his singles, "Wherever You Are", went to number one on the Billboard Chart.

Texas country is unique in that radio stations throughout Texas have embraced the subgenre and regularly mix Texas country into a Country radio format. Two Texas music charts exist to track radio play throughout the state, the Texas Music Chart and the Texas Regional Radio Report, respectively. Several radio stations across Texas have adopted a "Texas Country Only" format. These stations include:

In addition, at least two regionally syndicated programs feature the format: the CDTex radio show hosted by Cowboy Bobby Lopez and the Official Texas Countdown hosted by KHYI morning host Chuck Taylor.